Caring for a business implies a whole different level of responsibility and awareness of how your decisions impact other people’s lives. Just like you can’t sleep well thinking of firing an employee who is financially struggling, you shouldn’t take matters like your company’s CO2 footprint lightly, to boot.
Climate change and global warming are some of the hottest topics of the moment, and almost everyone has an opinion about them. We’re not here to suggest what to believe and act upon but to assist your enterprise’s transition to a responsible and environmentally oriented business.
Out of all the rooms in the building, the office kitchen makes some of the biggest contributions to the damage suffered by the environment on a daily basis. This space is where water can run interrupted for hours, paper is being used recklessly, and food scraps are discarded daily, among others. For instance, in the U.S., food disposal takes the lion’s share of landfill emissions with a worrying 58% score. And since you want happy employees who love serving their meals in your chic office kitchen, you’re determined to kill these two birds with a stone.
Sustainability and style are inseparable bedfellows when prioritized, so let’s examine how a few straightforward principles can ensure your employees’ visual satisfaction and the security of future generations.
Use Paper Ethically and With Style
Evidently, paper towel rolls are vital – everyone can approve of their essentiality. Have you spilt your drink and are running out of time to mop the floor? Or maybe you find re-washing the same kitchen towel again and again unhygienic, all the more since numerous employees use it. If your worries are related to the cleanliness of your space and of the digits that come in contact with surfaces like the keyboard, money, restroom, and so on, you’re given the reward of the aware employee.
Experts from vepa.co.uk emphasize that a main contributor to the large number of clicks turned into conversions lies in purchasers’ determination to live sustainably, where their health and work team’s health are core focuses. Living sustainably means making the necessary efforts to ensure the planet’s safety and security for future generations, which is put into practice by future-oriented and environmentally aware companies. Responsible paper waste use, disposal, and recycling are non-negotiables in eco-conscious workspaces, so how will you do it? Can you sit on the fence and not contribute to the 476MN tons of paperboard and paper expected to be registered in 2032?
Evidently, you do. Here’s how:
- Encourage the use of both sides of a napkin. Feel free to incentivize employees who lead by example to promote healthier habits
- Almost everything can be recycled via a solid waste management strategy, including paper offcuts and trimming
- Assign a dependable employee the job of mentoring others to adopt environmentally friendly practices
- Use services and advice from reputable commercial waste management plan providers
- Buy items made from recycled and reusable materials
- Install stylish mini-bins for waste in multiple locations.
Purchase Responsibly – and Sustainably
The number of furniture waste our Earth deals with yearly is enormous – so big that it could motivate you to take a step back and reconsider how you buy workspace equipment. Over 12MN tons of furniture waste clog the environment yearly, with around 80% ending up in landfills. Adding that much of this clearance is carried out for aesthetics-related reasons, the discarded gear is in perfect condition, and the trend may seem even more unsettling. While changing your kitchen’s aspect once every ten years or so is normal, doing it because the space started to feel lifeless is not precisely the most eco-centric move.
You can have furniture that looks great, stands the test of time, complements your kitchen, and meets each of your requirements if you focus on choosing the right merch provider. After all, it’s not in vain that you see so many workspaces equipped by Vepa, whether you look at kitchens, offices, halls, and so on.
Discern Responsible From Unreliable Gear Providers
Even if it looks breathtakingly fancy, similar furniture fulfills the goals of paving the path to good-looking, sustainable workspaces. Here’s what to look for in your furniture provider:
- Unshakeable and complete transparency as to the materials, delivery, sourcing, and manufacturing materials and operations leading up to your purchased product
- Sustainability across multiple production and supply chain phases, from the material suppliers to the workforce’s well-being to the revealed recycling plan
- Corporate collaborations that strive to reduce the industry’s impact on Earth, from stakeholders to marketers
- Evidently, the items acquired should be made without hazardous materials and materials in shortening supply.
Turn Waste Into Art
Have you ever felt sad to dispose of something as insignificant as a chocolate box because it looked so fancy? Or, maybe you’ve kept it but never put it to good use, meaning you only postpone its travel to the landfill.
Fortunately, the internet abounds with tricks and tips on saving the pieces you find visually enjoyable after they’ve played their part in supporting the core product’s delivery to you. Some drink bottle caps, broken glass, and resin can do wonders when combined in a picture and hung up the wall.
Do you need more ideas for the following team-building activities? It could be a terrific time to gather your employees and see what you can do with the boxes, cartons, packages, and cases that ran out of purpose to serve. Feel free to get creative during your upcycling journey while ensuring the safety of the crew, clients, and environment is guaranteed.
Turn to the Coffee Provided
Everyone loves a job where coffee is a promise. Still, many employees would wholeheartedly give up using cardboard takeaway cups to reduce paper waste. The solution mainly involves replacing the cups with something just as (or even more) attractive.
Set a budget for buying cups and mugs and have each employee choose a mug for themselves from a trustworthy provider. You can also get some mugs yourself and have them name-personalized to ensure the depth and colouristic coherence of the space. You’re spoilt for choice, so navigate your options pleasurably!
Hopefully, you feel more confident in meeting your goal now and will untap your office kitchen’s full potential in the future!
